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Community Corner

Camp Provides Summer Fun for Autistic Children

Noelle Dorment and Noel Bingham are passionate about their programs for children with autism.

Potomac’s is filled each day with kids dancing, singing, doing arts and crafts, having fun with water outside on a warm summer day, practicing yoga, cooking and playing. 

Many Potomac kids attend camps in the summer. But this camp is different –- it is specifically for children with autism.

Five years ago, "Camp Connections” was founded by Noelle Dorment.  Then, two years ago, Dorment and Noel Bingham joined forces to run the camp, which began on June 27 and goes through August 19.

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Both women have extensive experience as autism waiver providers -- a Medicaid program which provides after school, weekend, spring and winter break and summer services to autistic children and their families.

Dorment owns “Camp Connections” and Bingham owns “Celebrate Ability.” Their vast experience and knowledge of autism helped them create a camp that effectively provides therapeutic integration services for children with autism.

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“We both have a passion for working with autistic children,” Bingham said. “We love seeing them change and grow. Many times, autistic children are frustrated because they have a difficult time communicating. But if you give them the tools to get what they need, that frustration goes away.”

The children range from ages 6 to 21 and attend the eight-week camp daily from noon to 4 p.m. There are between 30 and 35 campers who come to the program with each attendee getting personal attention from the staff. The camp is staffed at the ratio of three children for every counselor, but some of the counselors are one-on-one with a camper.

The campers have a structured day. Every half hour, they rotate through a variety of activities that develop their skills. They work with a parachute for their gross motor skills, learn arts and crafts to improve fine motor skills, and play games and musical instruments, cook and join into outdoor recreation. The campers do well in the structured environment, which also reinforces their life skills and social skills.

Dorment said the kids are happy when they come to camp.

“A lot of what makes this camp a success is the staff who are certified special educators and very experienced with autistic children,” Dorment said. “They understand that it is important to be consistent and to limit the demands on the kids and then increase the expectations slowly. We want the children to enjoy camp and have a good time, but we also look for progress as they go through the eight weeks of camp.”

During the school year, Bingham’s company, “Celebrate Ability” provides Saturday, winter and spring camps as well as therapeutic integration services in the home.  Bingham has more than 12 years of experience working with autistic children.

Besides “Camp Connections,” Dorment owns a company called “Changing the Lives of Children with Autism,” which provides in-home consultation for behavioral problems and offers treatment goals, she said.

Bingham noted the value of getting to see the campers return and grow each year.

“The kids come back to camp year after year,” she said. “It’s wonderful for us to get to know each of them and see them enjoy the camp each day.”

Spots are still available at this summer's camp. For more information about Camp Connections, call Noelle Dorment at 240-994-5956.

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